Black-owned Firms Steadily Increasing

January 19, 1986|By John Naisbitt, Special to the News/Sun-Sentinel

The number of businesses owned by black Americans is increasing steadily, up 47 percent from 1977 to 1982. In comparison, during that same period, the total number of U.S. businesses increased only 30 percent. Of those black- owned companies, 95 percent are sole proprietorships, usually family-run.

Encouraging as the increases are, the number of black-owned businesses in this country is still tiny; estimates show that by the end of the year, there could be about 430,000 out of 7 million.

To encourage entrepreneurs in the black community, dozens of organizations have been established across the United States, offering advice, support, workshops and networks for minority business owners. The cities with the highest number of black-owned businesses are Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago and Houston.